Yu Wang was dead?

And he died the day after Hualing disappeared.

Mumu knelt on the ground, crying and trembling all over.

She had kept this secret for three years. Now that she had spoken it, the stone in her heart had finally fallen.

Yu Wei angrily questioned her, “Are you certain the murderer was Yu Wang?”

“This servant… this servant is certain, it was… it was him.”

Though the words were affirmative, her tone lacked conviction.

Yu Wei was shocked, but also delighted.

With an eyewitness, his father could be released without charges!

He said to Ji Yunshu, “Lord Ji, now that there’s an eyewitness, my father was wrongly accused. He didn’t kill anyone.” Unable to hide his excitement, he turned to question Mumu, “You girl, since you knew who the murderer was, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“Young master…”

“Do you know you nearly cost my father his life?” Yu Wei was furious.

His fists clenched tightly.

Even the most even-tempered person has moments when they can’t help wanting to strike someone!

Mumu prostrated herself on the ground, tears streaming, extremely aggrieved.

And extremely guilt-ridden.

Seeing this, Ji Yunshu stepped forward, crouching beside her, saying to her in a gentle tone, “Tell me, what exactly happened that night? Tell me everything you know or saw.”

“Lord Ji, I didn’t kill anyone. I… I only saw, only saw…” She kept repeating.

Tears kept falling.

It was truly heartbreaking to watch.

A moment later, everyone gathered in the hall.

Yu Wei and Ji Yunshu sat in the left and right primary positions respectively. On both sides were Shi Ziran and the Yu manor’s servants.

The atmosphere was grave and serious.

Mumu knelt limply in the center of the hall.

She kept her head lowered, wiping her tears, her cold trembling hands tightly rubbing her clothes, crumpling them into a ball, as if she would tear them apart.

At this moment, her emotions had calmed considerably.

Ji Yunshu spoke, “Tell us.” She pressed her lips together. The hands rubbing her clothes worked even harder. After a long pause, she said softly, “When I woke up that night, I found Hualing still hadn’t returned, so I went out to look for her. I remember at that time… it should have been around the third quarter of the hour of Hai. From a distance I saw her standing by the pond, her whole body seeming about to fall in. But before I could get close, I saw Yu Wang. I don’t know where he rushed out from, but he grabbed Hualing. I don’t know what the reason was, but they started arguing. I heard Yu Wang say… if Hualing wouldn’t marry him, he would… would kill her. Hualing wanted to run, but Yu Wang held her and wouldn’t let go. He even viciously slapped her and strangled her neck, pressing her to the ground. I was very frightened at the time, covering my mouth, not daring to go over, so I… I left.”

Her voice trembled!

As soon as she spoke these words, everyone present was filled with righteous indignation.

Several maids pointed and whispered nearby, “Hualing was usually so good to her, yet she kept such a huge matter hidden.”

“Usually she looks decent, as if they were close sisters. Who knew her heart was so wicked.”

“Exactly!”

“She should be thrown in jail and given a good beating with the rod. She nearly caused the master to suffer wrongful imprisonment.”

“She watched Yu Wang kill Hualing and didn’t go help. How can her heart be so poisonous, so heartless?”

…

They were extremely angry.

Mumu never raised her head, and her voice grew quieter and quieter.

“That’s all… I know.”

Ji Yunshu stared at her and asked, “Are you certain it was the third quarter of the hour of Hai at that time?”

“This servant is certain.”

Yu Wei suddenly understood, “My father said when Hualing left his room it was the beginning of the hour of Hai, but at the third quarter of the hour of Hai she was still alive. My father is innocent.”

“Temple Justice Yu, don’t jump to conclusions so quickly.” Ji Yunshu said.

“Lord Ji, now there’s an eyewitness, and the timing matches perfectly.”

“But there are still many doubtful points in this.”

“What?” Yu Wei didn’t understand. “Isn’t it already crystal clear? Hualing was killed by Yu Wang after leaving my father’s room.”

Ji Yunshu’s expression was grave.

She went through the entire chain of events in her mind.

She also went through Mumu’s words.

No one dared make a sound. All eyes fell on her.

They wanted to see what doubts there could still be.

Afterward, she stood and walked toward Mumu, her face serious.

Seeing her approach, Mumu lowered her gaze even further. Seeing those women’s official boots before her, she couldn’t help shrinking back slightly, appearing somewhat guilty.

All of this was observed by Ji Yunshu.

She found this Mumu even more strange.

“I ask you, why didn’t you speak at the time? Why not even after three years? Not until today when we set up this trap did you speak? If you’re not the murderer, why didn’t you dare?”

Eh!

A series of questions smashed toward her.

A flash of panic crossed Mumu’s eyes. She prostrated herself lower, palms pressing on the cold ground, saying, “Because… because I was afraid. I was afraid that if I had gone over to stop it at the time, Yu Wang would have killed me too, so I ran. The next day I heard Mumu had left the manor. At the time I thought either Hualing truly had left the manor, or… she really had been killed by Yu Wang. But Yu Wang died soon after too! A life for a life—what good would it do for me to speak? The murderer was already dead. Even if it went to the authorities, they couldn’t pass judgment! So I… I didn’t speak. I was also afraid you would suspect me and think I was the murderer. Moreover, that was only my side of the story. You… you might not believe it.”

Ridiculous!

Ji Yunshu immediately scolded her, “You’re lying!”

Eh!

Mumu froze, suddenly raising her head, eyes wide as she looked at Ji Yunshu standing above her looking down, her mouth opening, “I…”

She couldn’t speak! Ji Yunshu pressed closer, “You say you didn’t dare go over, afraid Yu Wang would kill you too. But this matter passed three years ago, and Yu Wang is dead. Why still wouldn’t you tell the truth? Instead you let your master suffer wrongful imprisonment, nearly facing execution—this is the first point. The deceased’s cause of death was a strike to the back of the head, but you say Yu Wang strangled her—that doesn’t match at all—this is the second point. Third, if you saw Yu Wang kill someone and ran away at the time, why didn’t you immediately notify people in the manor? Speak! What exactly are you hiding?”

“Uh…”

“At this point, you still won’t tell the truth?” Ji Yunshu’s words were severe, her eyes narrowed tightly. “Mumu, if you want to clear yourself of guilt, you must cooperate. Otherwise, I’ll arrest you and take you to the Ministry of Justice prison for proper interrogation.”

If gentle means don’t work, we’ll use force.

Very clearly, Mumu was truly afraid.

Her body shrank back again. A pair of eyes filled with terror looked around at her surroundings. Countless eyes stared at her. She knew she had no choice but to speak now.

After a long while—

Like a deflated balloon, she finally said, “Alright, I’ll talk. I’ll tell everything.” Everyone waited quietly.